Emotional & Spiritual Care: Chaplaincy

Providing Emotional and Spiritual Care in the midst of loss

Every Hope Force Reservist understands that they are called upon to provide a level of appropriate emotional and spiritual care, regardless of their assignment in the field. We often refer to this as the “Ministry of Presence.” Hope Force Reservists are called to offer their service with compassion and love for those they are serving – including their fellow responder.

Hope Force also has a cadre of licensed Chaplains and Trained ESC workers among our Reservists who provide emotional and spiritual care (ESC). As our teams muck out houses, repair roofs and rebuild homes, this team pays particular attention to the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the survivor and the volunteers that are serving.

While all Hope Force Reservists are trained in the basic principles of ESC, they are not considered to be Chaplains. If you are interested in acquiring the skill required to serve in Chaplaincy, we would be happy to help you navigate the required training process

What our chaplains do

Click below for printable standard requirements for Hope Force Chaplains.

Lead Chaplain: Susan Cress

Susan Cress has been a dedicated member of the Hope Force family since 2020, bringing compassionate emotional and spiritual support to disaster survivors, Reservists and staff. With a heart for those overlooked or forgotten, Susan fully embraces our mission to serve those suffering in the aftermath of disaster.

As Senior Chaplain, Susan leads the charge in organizing, recruiting, training, and deploying emotional and spiritual caregivers — ensuring that we continue to manifest God’s love and foster resilience and hope in times of crisis.

Of her work as a Hope Force Chaplain, Susan says, “I love working with Hope Force because they serve those underserved or overlooked. While the media focuses on those with resources, Hope Force intentionally helps those struggling before and after storms.”